How do 'pretty URLs' work?

[stanhoenson]

The documentation on pretty URLs states that you don’t need ‘non-standard server side configuration’ for pretty URLs to work. I don’t get how this works, since after “compiling” the website all files still have the ‘html’ file extension.

When I create a handcoded website, the URL always includes the file extension. I’m just interested in how this works, since I’m also working on a handcoded and would like to have easier control over the URL (instead of having to remove the file extension from the file).

[gaetawoo]

The links for pages point to folders, hence the trailing / . When there is an index.html file inside a folder, the browser can find that and open that without showing the file itself in the address. Or the server assumes the same and serves that file by default. I think it’s how it works, one or the other.